Justin Tucker practices in between overtime sessions / Screenshot

by Chris Chase, USA TODAY Sports

by Chris Chase, USA TODAY Sports

Moments before kicking a game-winning 47-yard field goal to send his team to the AFC championship, Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker took a practice kick on the field during a break in between the first and second overtime sessions in Denver.

While players milled around, waiting to restart the game following the expiration of the first 15 minutes of the extra session, Tucker was seen taking at least one warm-up kick. The impromptu practice drew protests from some Denver Broncos, including Champ Bailey, who can be seen questioning its fairness in the accompanying picture.

Turns out that taking on-field kicks is not an offense that brings a penalty. But, strangely, it's also not allowed.

Arizona Cardinals kicker Jay Feely tweeted something to that effect after the game. "It's actually against the NFL rules to kick a practice ball in overtime on the field. Had ref's tell me that twice this yr," he wrote.

NFL officiating guru Mike Pereira confirmed that there is no penalty but said officials are instructed to not let kickers practice. "If it happens they're to tell him to get off the field," they wrote.

So it's illegal, but there's no punishment for it? That's hard to believe in an NFL where everything, from the color of gloves to the length of chin straps, is regulated. There's more legal gray area in the "no practice kicking" rules than with marijuana laws in the Mile High city.

Tucker took advantage.

"Usually at the change of quarter you don't see people run out there and kick the ball but we figured, 'Nobody has told us not to before so we'll go hit one,'" he said after the game. "I'm glad we did because it is different kicking on the sideline where the grass is green and plush and it's all good, as opposed to on the field, where it was straight mud at a certain point."

Good for Tucker and the Ravens for figuring out a loophole. They did no wrong and benefitted from a flawed rule.

If it's not allowed, don't allow it. Tucker got an advantage he wasn't allowed to receive. There were more egregious officiating gaffes on Saturday, but none may have had a bigger impact.